Social Visits 2019 - 2020
2019
May: Backstage tour of Theatre Royal Plymouth
Members went to Plymouth on the train had a very enjoyable tour and had lunch in a nearby restaurant, then caught the train back home.
June: Cream tea in a member’s garden.
Several members attended and all said they enjoyed it, so it was agreed to make it an annual event. Unfortunately, Covid put paid to that until it was revived again in 2024.
July: A guided tour of Honiton’s blue plaques and visit to the Lace Museum.
Members caught the bus to Honiton for the tour by a member of Exeter Forum, with lunch afterwards. A lovely sunny day for a visit to historical Honiton.
August: A guided tour and wine tasting at Alder Vineyard, Lewdown.
Members all caught a local bus to the vineyard for a tour showing how they grow the grapes and make the wine, then a wine tasting in their shop.
September: A tour of Princesshay with Heritage Open Days.
This was an overground underground guided tour showing how the site is run and also a visit to the roof garden where there are bee hives, the resulting honey is sold in a nearby shop.
October: A coach trip to the Royal Mint near Cardiff.
This trip was well attended; we drove directly to Llatrisant and went straight onto the tour. There was an onsite café there for lunch afterwards. On the way back we stopped at the National Trust property Tredegar House for tea. A very interesting trip.
November: Guided tour of the Freemasons Hall in Gandy Street.
This was a very interesting guided tour by one of the Freemasons who showed us around the lodge and gave a talk about their activities. Tea and coffee were included.
December: A visit to the Northcott theatre to see Beauty and the Beast.
This was fairly well attended and those who went thoroughly enjoyed the pantomime.
2020
January: Annual lunch at the Devon Hotel.
February: Visit to the fire station at Middlemoor.
We were shown around the fire station and looked at the fire engines that were there, whilst we were looking, there was a shout, and all of a sudden, they had to go and attend to a fire. Quite an exciting visit it turned out to be.
February: A few members were able to visit the MET office.
These members were very lucky to have gone on that occasion as they no longer allow tours.
May: This was going to be a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Exeter Forum, to be held at the Buckerell Lodge Hotel, all was going well with the arrangements when, unfortunately this had to be cancelled due to Covid.
After this date due to Covid restrictions all visits were cancelled and Exeter Forum talks were held via zoom.
2019
May: Backstage tour of Theatre Royal Plymouth
Members went to Plymouth on the train had a very enjoyable tour and had lunch in a nearby restaurant, then caught the train back home.
June: Cream tea in a member’s garden.
Several members attended and all said they enjoyed it, so it was agreed to make it an annual event. Unfortunately, Covid put paid to that until it was revived again in 2024.
July: A guided tour of Honiton’s blue plaques and visit to the Lace Museum.
Members caught the bus to Honiton for the tour by a member of Exeter Forum, with lunch afterwards. A lovely sunny day for a visit to historical Honiton.
August: A guided tour and wine tasting at Alder Vineyard, Lewdown.
Members all caught a local bus to the vineyard for a tour showing how they grow the grapes and make the wine, then a wine tasting in their shop.
September: A tour of Princesshay with Heritage Open Days.
This was an overground underground guided tour showing how the site is run and also a visit to the roof garden where there are bee hives, the resulting honey is sold in a nearby shop.
October: A coach trip to the Royal Mint near Cardiff.
This trip was well attended; we drove directly to Llatrisant and went straight onto the tour. There was an onsite café there for lunch afterwards. On the way back we stopped at the National Trust property Tredegar House for tea. A very interesting trip.
November: Guided tour of the Freemasons Hall in Gandy Street.
This was a very interesting guided tour by one of the Freemasons who showed us around the lodge and gave a talk about their activities. Tea and coffee were included.
December: A visit to the Northcott theatre to see Beauty and the Beast.
This was fairly well attended and those who went thoroughly enjoyed the pantomime.
2020
January: Annual lunch at the Devon Hotel.
February: Visit to the fire station at Middlemoor.
We were shown around the fire station and looked at the fire engines that were there, whilst we were looking, there was a shout, and all of a sudden, they had to go and attend to a fire. Quite an exciting visit it turned out to be.
February: A few members were able to visit the MET office.
These members were very lucky to have gone on that occasion as they no longer allow tours.
May: This was going to be a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Exeter Forum, to be held at the Buckerell Lodge Hotel, all was going well with the arrangements when, unfortunately this had to be cancelled due to Covid.
After this date due to Covid restrictions all visits were cancelled and Exeter Forum talks were held via zoom.
